After the Election

November 9, 2016/ 8 Heshvan 5777

After the Election

Rabbi Audrey S. Pollack

For those who have been asking, what should I say to my children, how will you respond to the members of your congregation-our Canadian friends who ask how could this have happened, how is this possible, what will we do. This is my response:

My father was a proud American.  The son of immigrant parents who had come to America in the early part of the 20^th century in search of a better life free of the persecutions and pogroms against Jews in Eastern Europe, he raised us with the values of democracy.  He was a student of history, and later a teacher of history, who believed in the value of public education and the ideals that extend civil rights, freedoms and justice to every American. On Flag Day and the 4^th of July, I have strong memories of him putting out our American flag in its holder on the front of our house, and being carried on his shoulders to watch the parades. He instilled in my sisters and me the importance of voting, of civic engagement, and in dialogue with those whom we might not agree with.  He taught us to believe in the values and ideals of American democracy and to stand up for the rights of those who did not have a voice. 

My mother is a proud American. Her grandparents were immigrants who also came seeking a better life, a place where they would enjoy freedom and as Jews, not fear for their lives because they were a minority, different, other.  She, like my father, believes in the value of public education and civic engagement and dialogue. My parents spent their careers teaching in the public education system and devoted their lives to helping children and families from all walks of life, ethnicities, cultures, religions, socio-economic status, political leanings, and beliefs.  And they raised me and my sisters in a community that shares those values.

This morning is a mix of emotions.  Many political commentators are writing opinions about what is broken in America, and how the political system delivered last night’s election results. I will leave it to them to analyze. We must realize that there is a part of America that is elated by last night’s election results.  We have to try and understand and make sense of what that means. Most Americans that I know, however, are worried, embarrassed, angry, hurt, and fearful.

As Jews we know all too well the lessons of history and what happens when hate and fear is allowed to prevail.  Last night we were expecting the shattering of a glass ceiling, to see the first woman in US history elected to the presidency. Today, November 9^th , is the anniversary of another shattering of glass, Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass. 78 years ago in Nazi Germany and Austria after years of Hitler's campaign against Jewish citizens, crowds and soldiers burned synagogues and broke into Jewish houses and stores, attacking and murdering Jews.   German authorities looked on without intervening. The tide had turned.

Some of my friends’ children are asking their parents this morning “what will happen to my friends who came here from Mexico, who are Muslim immigrants, who have brown skin”? We are fearful of what will happen to the great strides that were made for the protection of LGBTQ Americans, for marriage equality, for the rights of women to make their own decisions about their bodies, for civil rights and religious freedoms.  

I understand that fear. That fear runs deep -  My mother always taught us that it was important to always have a valid passport.  I’d like to think it was because her mother, who came through the Great Depression as a child, enjoyed clipping articles from National Geographic and dreaming of the places she wanted to visit, something she was fortunate to enjoy in her later years.  I’d like to think that. But I know that it is about something deeper. It is not because we did not have a comfortable life, not because there was anything rationally known to fear. But “just in case.”   That is not to say that I think most liberal Americans should leave the country, even as I know that many liberal Americans were/are considering options to leave. Last night as we watched the election returns from our home in Canada, the immigration Canada website crashed from all of the traffic.   

To the contrary, I believe that we cannot allow fear and anxiety to guide us. To be sure, this election will have great effect on the world. But we must also remember that America is still a democracy.  It is a democracy that has at its center a system of checks and balances built into it.  We must work together to hold back the tide of xenophobia, racism, misogyny and homophobia.  We must recommit ourselves to protect those who are most marginalized and most at risk. We have to strive together to uphold decency, fairness, moderation, compromise and the rule of law. We have to work harder to encourage multiculturalism and diversity, to diversify and support our own networks of friends, to help those less fortunate, to speak up when we hear people speaking bigotry and untruths, and to be vigilant.

We must remind our children each and every day to treat others with respect, and to always speak up when someone is being disrespectful, to them or someone else, to be kind, and help people who need help.  Stand up for your beliefs and your rights while taking care to listen to those who disagree. We must continue to teach our children to stand up for what they believe in and to stand up for the rights that democracy promises us. We must make sure they know that we are always here to support and care for them, that our love surrounds them, and that they can use the power of their love and caring for good in this world. We must work even harder to bring light into the world.

Now more than ever we need the teachings of our prophetic tradition, reminding us: “Learn to do good. Devote yourselves to justice; Aid the wronged. Uphold the rights of the orphan; Defend the cause of the widow.” (Isaiah 1:17) and “You have been told what is good, And what Adonai requires of you: Only to do justice; to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)  These same teachings were eloquently phrased in the inspiring words of Michelle Obama: “When they go low, we go high.”

Rabbi’s Report to the Congregational Meeting

We learn in the Mishnah Pirke Avot (2:15–16) the words of Rabbi Tarfon, who lived in the 2nd century CE: Lo alecha hamlacha ligmor, v’lo atah ben chorin l’hibateil mimena. “You are not required to finish the work, yet you are not free to avoid it.”

This is true of the work we do here at Temple Israel. Although running our synagogue is demanding and at times may seem overwhelming, we must never be discouraged. To all of the members of our Temple Israel family who take this advice to heart, please know that your work is vital and important and worthwhile. You are the caretakers of our Jewish community.

We are now, this week, beginning the book of BeMidbar, known in English as the book of Numbers. The Hebrew is best translated as, “in the wilderness.” For the last 32 days, we have been counting the Omer. Every day, on our 49-day journey from Pesach to Shavuot, from Egypt to Sinai, brings us closer to receiving and understanding Torah. Being BeMidbar, “in the wilderness,” teaches us that the journey is a series of small but deliberate steps, always moving forward, always on the journey—together.

BeMidbar opens with a census, counting all the men of b’nei Yisrael over the age of 20—that is, all of the men who would be eligible to serve as part of an army—from all the tribes, except Levi. The number adds up to 603,550. Here at Temple Israel, in 2014, we count women and children too. But either way, the counting serves to remind the b’nei Yisrael, and us as b’nei Yisrael of Temple Israel, that every one of us counts and is needed for our Jewish community to thrive on this journey that we are on together.

Each person and family who have hosted oneg Shabbats, baked or cooked and decorated for holidays and life cycle events, worked in the cemetery, cleaned up, played a musical instrument, donated your time, donated money, and contributed in countless ways to the life of our synagogue, including those of you who have participated in multiple committee meetings that sometimes go until late in the evening, you already know this: sometimes we have to work late into the night, but it’s not without its rewards. Some great ideas have come out of those late-night meetings.

We are a small community, but there are many ways we can grow. There are always limiting factors, like money and volunteer hours. And we know that progress doesn’t always come so easily. Keeping a congregation going is always a challenging task. We may simultaneously feel inspired and tested, and we know that success doesn’t happen overnight. Sometimes, we have to come back and try again and again.

But know that what makes this community and this place sacred is our connection to each other, our coming together to sanctify our lives and to offer praise and thanks together, our accompanying each other on the journeys of brit and baby naming, b’nei mitzvah, confirmation—-chuppah and parenthood—grief and mourning, learning and prayer, and relationships.

Do you remember Rabbi Tarfon, whom we started with? He also teaches in that same Mishnah: Hayom Katzar v’hamlachah m’rubah,
v’hapoalim atzelim v’hasachar harbeh u’vaal habayit dochek. “The day is short, the work is great, the workers are lazy, but the reward is great, and the master of the house is knocking [at your door].”

The truth about being part of a kehillah kedoshah, a holy community, is that the work is long and the expressions of gratitude often are not. What keeps us doing this then, year after year? Because you believe your work is worthwhile. You don’t do it for the recognition. You do it, because you care. At the end of the day, at the end of the year, we have successes, sometimes we have mistakes, but what truly matters, what makes us a holy community in the service of God is that we are here to support each other in times of celebration and in times of sadness; that our children learn and feel a sense of accomplishment, and that the members of our Temple family know they matter and have an important place in our community.

Preparation for Passover Participation!

Passover is almost upon us! A holiday that we eagerly await and celebrate joyfully.  Passover, with its timeless story of the escape from freedom to slavery, the symbols of the Seder which delight all of the senses, and the excitement of joining together around the Seder table with family and friends to retell the ancient story is looked forward to with great anticipation. As adults, we know the deeper meaning of the holidays - the Passover story of freedom, and the importance of passing on our tradition to the next generation.
 

But with children, where do we begin?  As it says in the Pesach Haggadah: For the young one, who does not know enough to ask the question, you shall begin with the story, explaining it simply: “This is what God did for me, when I went forth out of Egypt.” The Haggadah’s message not only reminds us that we should begin where a child can understand, but that the celebration of the Jewish holidays is meant to be experiential.  After all, we are taught that “In every age, one must regard himself as if he himself had come out of Egypt”.  So, make your celebrations experiential and try to involve everyone present!

Children love stories and one of the best ways to get children involved in the celebrations of both Purim and Passover is by reading or telling them the story at an age-appropriate level.  Doing this in advance of the holiday will whet their appetites and prepare them for the events to come.  Children also love to play dress-up and act.  To get them involved in this year’s Passover Seder, have them act out the story as you read it from the Haggadah, or make paper bag puppets and act it out for them.

  
Children also love songs, especially simple ones with repeating choruses.  Try to interject singing  into your celebrations.  Try playing CD’s in the car or at home a few weeks ahead so they’ll be familiar.  If you don’t feel confident singing by yourself, bring CD’s or an iPhone loaded with mp3’s to your celebration and everyone can sing along.
 
Almost every Jewish holiday has special foods that accompany the celebration.  Involve your child in the preparations - have him help you shop for the ingredients.  Give her simple tasks to do in preparing the Seder plate for Passover.  As you mix the different elements for the charoset, ask your child what the foods smell and taste like.  Are they sweet? salty? sour? crunchy? soft? Children can also make special table decorations for each guest, which can be used every year for your celebration of the holidays. 

Need help with resources?

Passover recipes, customs and rituals, and how to put together a seder plate

An extensive collection of songs for Passover is available for free download at the Jewish Birth Network

Passover trivia? Try this quiz

Hag Sameach!  Happy Pesach! 

A Question for the New Year: What will I become in the future?

What is it about the High Holy Days that draws so many of us into the synagogue?  Even if we have not been more than a few times or perhaps not at all during the past year, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur bring us here to pray, to reflect, and to be a part of community.  As we enter the doors of the synagogue once again, we are reminded that the gates of repentance are always open, that no matter how often or how infrequently we may have come to synagogue over the past year, we are always welcome here.  Sometimes it is difficult to find the path back towards God and Torah and being amongst other Jews.  Judah Halevi, the medieval poet said: “When I go forth looking for You, I find You seeking me.”  In the process of searching for God, and returning to synagogue, we find ourselves. 

Judaism is a religion of questions and questioning.  So, too, at this time of year, as we approach the Yamim Noraim, we must ask ourselves the important questions, the hard questions.  How do we take stock of our actions and our interactions with loved ones, friends, neighbors, even business associates during the previous year?  How can we even begin to confront these hard questions?  We start by letting go of the fear of ourselves, and acknowledging that we are not perfect, and that we do have the capacity to change. We must ask ourselves: “What have I done? and What have I become?” (Rabbi Jonah of Gerona in his Gates of Repentance, a treatise of the 13th century). To Rabbi Jonah’s wisdom, I think we must add one additional question: What will I become in the future?  Our tradition calls the process of self reflection cheshbon hanefesh, literally, “taking an account of our soul”.  It is what the period leading up to the Yamim Noraim is all about.  This time of preparation is not easy but it is also a gift, an opportunity to begin anew, as we consider not only our interactions and actions over the past twelve months, but the process of teshuvah, of repentance and change.  Each day we begin with ourselves, unafraid to confront the past, for as we return towards God, we come to learn that these actions of the past are no longer what we have become or must be in the future.

My family and I wish each of you a Shanah Tova U’Metukah, a year filled with health, joy and the sweetness of life.  May this new year of 5774 be a year of health, happiness, and growth for you and your family.

Do Not Separate Yourself From the Community

Hillel said: Do not separate yourself from the community. And do not trust in yourself until the day of your death. And do not judge your fellow until you have stood in their place. Do not say something which cannot be heard (on the assumption) that eventually it will be heard. And do not say, 'When I have time I shall study,' perhaps you will never make the time. - Pirke Avot 2:5.

The lead article in the Summer issue of Reform Judaism magazine focuses on navigating the cyberworld of technology and re-inventing the synagogue.  The new world of networked computing has led us to this new frontier in synagogue life. The relative ease with which we can connect and the openness of the internet as a conduit for information have radically changed the world we live in.  The old models for doing synagogue assume a very different structure than the networked connections and social network conversations that many of us are able to have through email, Facebook, texting, and internet exploration.

 Ron Wolfson, visionary educator and cofounder of Synagogue 3000, is the author of Relational Judaism: Using the Power of Relationships to Transform the Jewish Community (Jewish Lights Publishing).  In a Synagogue 3000 report last year,  Wolfson gave this advice: “ We have to move from a synagogue of programs targeting different populations to a deepening relationship between the synagogue and their members...The best way to root people in the life of the congregation is through relationships….” 

Wolfson’s new book is an exploration of how relationships transform synagogues from institutions into communities: “For me, the value-added must be a face-to-face community of relationships that gives my life meaning and purpose, belonging and blessing. "Meaning" is an understanding of the significance of life. "Purpose" is an imperative to do what you are put on earth to do during your life. "Belonging" is a community of people who will be there for you and with you. "Blessing" is a feeling of deep satisfaction and gratitude, a calendar and life cycle of opportunities to celebrate the gifts of life.”

At the heart of it, synagogue life is about what Rabbi Hillel taught thousands of years ago – synagogue life is about community and about communal responsibility. While we may be busy lamenting the declining affiliation rates in churches and synagogues across North America, the good news is that many Jews are very interested in Judaism. Transforming the synagogue means thinking differently about how to build community and connectedness. We have to change our measurement of success from looking at the attendance at programs and services, to looking at how many people have deep and lasting relationships within our congregational communities. People come for programs; they stay members if they have those relationships. Our congregation's recent Conversation Café’s have been a wonderful way to think about our relationships within our own synagogue community and think about we can build on the strengths that we already have.